We at The Comfort Dentist are so lucky to have Alicia as our Financial Coordinator! Alicia was born and raised in Virginia Beach and currently resides in Chesapeake. She is the proud mother of a nine-year-old daughter (who happens to be a black belt in Taekwondo)! Alicia is a dynamic person who loves the adventure of snowboarding and appreciates the soothing nature of gardening. She began her career in healthcare in 2016 when she became a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. A passion for helping others lead to her interest in dentistry and to a position working with a periodontal practice. There she gained valuable administrative experience as well as skills for serving the non-clinical needs of patients. Alicia joined our practice in 2022 and quickly became our expert in all things regarding the cost of dental treatment.  She has extensive knowledge regarding insurance and specializes in helping our patients understand their policies and how they can best utilize their benefits.  Alicia respects the complexity of navigating financial questions and uses empathy and skill to inform and guide patients on their path toward healthy, beautiful smiles!  

Julia Uzeda was born in Brazil and came to the United States when she married her husband, Paul, in 2017.  She came to us with experience in many fields including teaching English as a second language (Julia is multilingual), working in the sales and travel industry on a cruise ship, and has even studied law! Her diverse knowledge and broad range of experience make Julia an asset to our team.  As our receptionist, Julia is often the first friendly face you see as you enter our building and the kind voice you will hear on the phone as she assists you in making your appointment.  Julia currently resides in Chesapeake where she enjoys spending time with Paul and their sweet dog Benji.

Laura was born and raised in Costa Rica. She attended Old Dominion University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. She has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education courses and is constantly training to reinforce her commitment to excellent care. She is a current member of the American Dental Hygienist Association and the Tidewater Component of Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association. “I truly enjoy helping our patients to improve their oral health and attaining beautiful, healthy smiles.” Laura is married to Dr. Kandare. They reside in Virginia Beach with their two boys and a fur baby named Rocky. Laura loves going to the beach, cooking, working out, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Christina is one of our awesome hygienists. She was born and raised in Hampton Roads.  She attended Hickory High School and went on to Old Dominion University where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene in 2002.  She joined our team in April of 2023 and enjoys being able to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care to our patients in a relaxed and compassionate environment. She is always striving to stay up to date on the latest in dental tools and technology and is certified to utilize dental lasers in the treatment of oral ulcers, inflammation, and periodontal disease.  Christina and her husband, Pete, live in Chesapeake and are proud parents of 4 children. They can often be found on a baseball/softball field or basketball court cheering them on! In her free time, she enjoys movies, shopping, and (most of all) playing pickleball!

Tina joined our team in March of 2016 and she brought with her 16 years of experience in the dental

field. Shortly after graduating as a dental assistant in 1989, she returned to college to receive her

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University in May of 1995. Tina’s dentalknowledge and experience make her a superior Dental Hygienist who is able to aid in proper diagnosis and treatment of various dental conditions. Tina truly understands the individual needs of each patient and makes every attempt to meet those needs. She moved to Virginia Beach in 1976 and now resides in

Moyock, NC since 2020. She has two children, a son who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University as a chemical engineer and a daughter who also attends VCU as a student in its Doctorate

program for Occupational therapy. Tina enjoys traveling, gardening, raising chickens and listening to local music.

Amy was born and raised in Connecticut and moved to Virginia in 2004. She began her career as a Registered Dental Assistant in 2022 and immediately became an asset to our Comfort Dentist team! She has been happily married for over 26 years and has raised two precious sons. Amy came to us with many amazing experiences that helped her grow as a compassionate, skillful clinician. For example, she and her husband along with her sister and brother-in-law originally came to Virginia with a vision of helping others when they started Hope Church in 2019. Amy has experience in education as she homeschooled both of her boys for 14 years. She also acts as a board member of a non-profit organization called United Response International.  This group traveled on a mission to Africa providing medical services, food, and clean water to an impoverished community.  Amy is a natural caretaker and puts her whole heart in to giving our patients the best dental treatment in an environment where they feel valued. When you ask her what is the best part of her job she will say “It’s the patients”!

Spencer joined our practice in 2022 and quickly became an asset in assisting in all aspects of patient care.  Spencer was born in Japan where his father was serving in the navy and lived there until his family relocated to Virginia in 2003.  He moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania after graduating high school and acquired many skills in the manufacturing trade while working in a steel mill. He and his wife relocated to Virginia Beach in 2010 and Spencer decided to put his talents to work in the way he found most rewarding – helping people! Top-notch customer service has always been a priority for Spencer. He has a knack for putting patients at ease with his humor and obvious desire to create a fun and welcoming environment. Whether he is working chair-side with patients or in our lab managing the behind-the-scenes details, Spencer always gives 100% to his patients and his team. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar and practicing Jiu Jitsu where he has been rewarded the blue belt!

Danielle joined our team in 2023 as our Director of Marketing.  She was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina and moved to Virginia in 2009.  Danielle completed her training at Penn Foster College and graduated as a Certified Dental Assistant 2, which is an advanced degree allowing these practitioners to perform duties beyond those traditionally assigned to a dental assistant. Danielle brings to our practice over 17 years of experience in dentistry which includes acting as the lead dental/surgical assistant in a busy periodontal practice. During this time, she developed a strong desire to support patients in all aspects of their care and the expertise to help guide our team in providing the best overall patient experience. Danielle also serves our practice and the community by visiting local dental offices and educating them on our sedation services and the ways in which we can partner with them to help meet the needs of their patients. Danielle loves spending her free time outdoors with her daughter.  If the weather doesn’t allow for a trip to the beach, then shopping is her next favorite activity!